Leinart always looked up to Palmer, will again

Newly-signed Raiders back-up quarterback Matt Leinart didn’t have a conference call with local writers, but he did give his reasons for signing with the Oakland Raiders on ESPN Los Angeles 710 AM. (The former USC Heisman-Trophy winner obviously has some fans down there, as they asked a question I never thought of — why sign with the Raiders when they have a clear-cut starter in Carson Palmer, and not somewhere else where he might have a better chance at starting? Never mind that Leinart’s phone wasn’t exactly ringing off the hook after the Texans cut him.)

“Coming off the injury, it was a bummer because when I got my shot (last season) I was feeling good and playing well, it was such an unlucky break,” Leinart said. “Coming off the injury, my goal was to get back and get healthy.”

New Raiders offensive coordinator Greg Knapp was Leinart’s quarterbacks coach in Houston, and Leinart said the two “talked a bunch.” “This was a good fit at this point in my career,” he said.

As far as the not having a chance to start thing, Leinart said, “I still have the mindset and desire to play. I am obviously still competitive and I hate to be on the sideline sitting and watching. … I know what I can do.”

But if he is going to watch anyone play in front of him, it might as well be Palmer, who Leinart backed up for one season (he redshirted the other) at USC.

“We have remained close over the years,” Leinart said. “He is a guy I have always looked up to, and it’s awesome 10 years later to be reunited.”

Leinart worked out with Palmer and some of the Raiders receivers in Los Angeles the last few months, and is “very excited” to be throwing to some of the fastest receivers in the NFL.